It’s a topic that had to come up sooner or later, as it did in the age of the social network then evolved into social media: how to act in the relationship between chatbots powered by generative artificial intelligence and children?
Quite a problem in a already a very delicate sector and on which much more traditional platforms have taken years to find some solution (like YouTube with Kids) or have not found one at all. Now OpenAI announces a significant partnership with Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that surveys the digital world (newspapers, products, services) based on their level of risk for children. The objective of the agreement is precisely to start working on the point, trying to contain the risks of using ChatGPT for minors.
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A step back: a few days ago, OpenAI has announced the debut of its store, the GPT Store, a shop open to those who pay for Plus, Team and Enterprise subscriptions where they can find customized and modified versions of ChatGPT. For example, specialized on single topics or designed for certain groups of users. The Store was previewed a couple of months ago and from that moment, OpenAI explained, 3 million of these versions of the powerful chatbot had already arrived. The agreement with Common Sense Media will hinge on the store: a store will be opened within the platform section defined as Kid Friendly where to find releases suitable for minors.
These ChatGPTs will be planned and developed based on the guidelines provided by Common Sense together with a series of other teaching and educational materials, based on what may be useful to children, parents and educators. The company and the non-profit will then deal with the selection and proposal of these versions within the new section precisely on the basis of the scores assigned by Common Sense. Thus making it easier to understand, at least in the initial choice, which chatbot to propose to minors.
“Together, Common Sense and OpenAI will work to ensure that artificial intelligence has a positive impact on all adolescents and families,” he said in a statement. James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media – Our guides and choices will be designed to educate families and educators in the safe and responsible use of ChatGPT, so we can collectively avoid any unintended consequences of this emerging technology.”
There is obviously a belief behind it, which is also quite slippery: at the last Common Sense summit, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, had explained (as revealed by Axios) that I am convinced that AI is not bad for children and that it should not be kept away from classrooms: “Human beings are users of tools, and it is better to teach people to use the tools that will be available in the world – he said, in full coherence with his general vision – and not teaching people to use them would be a mistake”. Not only that: Altman also stated that future high school students they will be able to operate at a higher level of abstraction and may achieve more than their predecessors. How will they do it? Obviously thanks to the help of artificial intelligence.